Wallace And Tannehill Building Strong Foundation

Photo via Joe Rimkus Jr./The Miami Herald Staff

The way Mike Wallace sees it, Ryan Tannehill has a better arm that Ben Roethlisberger.  The way Ryan Tannehill sees it, Mike Wallace is everything that was billed.

There is no bigger need for the Miami Dolphins this 0ff-season than for Tannehill and Wallace to be on the same page.  So far, this off-season the chemistry between the two is maturing at a very nice pace.  Tannehill and Wallace have been working out together.  They have been working on their timing and on their connections.  It’s an important step for two players who don’t know a thing about each other.

The fact that Wallace is already in Miami and working with his QB to be speaks volumes of his attitude.  Wallace was never really viewed as a “diva-receiva” but he had his moments.  He held out, wanted a new contract, at times seemed to not play 100% every down, and he did drop more than a few balls last season.  Regardless he has already done more thus far in Miami than former Dolphins big name WR Brandon Marshall.  As in, he is actually working out.

In Marshall’s first season with the Dolphins, Marshall opted out of participating in the off-season player only sessions they organized.  Partly due to his recovering from another off-season injury.  Mainly the stabbing by his wife.  Yet even after the injury had healed, Wallace didn’t seem eager to working out with his teammates.  In fact the following season, Wallace again worked out mostly on his own and away from non-team organized practices.  In other words, he didn’t work out much with Chad Henne.

There will still be lingering questions about whether or not Wallace will produce the same as Marshall but it shouldn’t be for a lack of effort on his part.  Wallace and Tannehill met for dinner shortly after Wallace was signed.  Just the two of them  getting to know each other as both teammates and people.  They have struck a bond and a friendship and that is more than important for a sophomore QB and an incoming free agent.  The ability of Tannehill and Wallace to gel early will be a key factor in the success of the season early on.  The Dolphins have a brutal opening month.

While most of the focus has been on the Tanny-Wall connection, it should be fairly noted that slot WR Brandon Gibson has also been working and putting in extra time with his new QB as has several other players as well.  This is the kind of team effort that will bode well for the Dolphins.  It’s also a clear indication of the type of players Joe Philbin wants on his football team.  It’s a manifest of the Green Bay Packers.  Team first, foremost, and only.